What gear ratio do I have?

[Ozark Tim]

There is no mark on the plate in the door jam that denotes the axle on my 72 F-100 Explorer. The original build sheet was in the back of the seat in rough shape and I can see the section that indicates rear axle. the designation in the build sheet is 334 but that does not seem consistant with the ratios that I see available for this truck. Any simple suggestions?
It is again a 72 F-100 with 360V8, C6, full power, and a/c and all original.
Thanks, OT

[heep70]

No tage on the rearend?

Some info on this thread.

http://fordification.com/forum/viewtopi ... ight=gears

[Ozark Tim]

I am new to the old Ford truck experiance. Is there supposed to be a tag on the differential? If so where? If there is does it require translation also? Anything to narrow down the hunt would be great.
OT

[heep70]

Check out this thread.

http://fordification.com/forum/viewtopi ... ight=ratio

[Ozark Tim]

Ahhhhhh Hahhhhhhhh! Great source of info. Thanks for the tip I will be scurrying around under old yeller tonight hoping that a tag is still there.
Your help is much appreciated.
OT
P.S. I will let you know what it turned out to be for kicks

[willowbilly3]

You might post the vin tag numbers. The axle code most common on the V8 automatic trucks is 17 which is a 3.25 open nine inch Ford. Other codes for an open 9 inch: 08-3.50 09-3.70 05-4.11 02-4.00 A2-3.70 limited slip H2-3.50 L/S H3-4.09 L/S
Quite often the number is stamped a little off center on the vin tag and isn't directly under the "axle" designation

[Ozark Tim]

O.K. I crawled under and sure enough there is a tag. I cleaned it off as it looks undisturbed, but dirty. Turns out the axle ratio is 3.00. Thanks Greg! There are other numbers and letters on the tag. there is a 343A at the end and since I know this truck was built in 12-71 I assume that is the numerical day of the 365 day year that the axle was produced, or 12-9-71. I will assume the A is first shift or something like that. This truck is fairly undisturbed original so it is a good case study.
Willowbilly, I looked at the door tag again, but there is no # under axle. Only thing possible is the rivet got it. I used this truck to go to my farm on this past Saturday for spring turkey hunting. At $2+ dollars per gallon for gasoline I am sure glad this truck has the high ratio otherwise I dont think that I could suffer any worse fuel mileage than it currently achieves. Besides that I am able to cruise her at 70 without a screaming FE under the hood and with traffic on 44 ( Rte. 66 ) here in MO even 70 looks slow as every one runs 80 or higher.
Thanks again, OT